Great Businesses to Start for Under $500

As you are thinking about what kind of business to operate, consider where you live, your job skills, hobbies, the equipment you own, the needs of your
community, and the work you like to do. If you do something your like your will never "work" a day in your life! Some people start companies in spare rooms, since they don't need a store front but only a mail box and space for inventory for business. Some of these businesses might be better suited for a part-time endeavor, while others (with a little luck and a lot of hard work) will allow you to devote yourself to them full-time. And who knows? Maybe they will make you millions.

• ACCOUNTING. The "simplified" tax code has the public more confused than ever.


• BUSINESS CONSULTING. Consulting is a fast growing small business, and potentially one of the most profitable. If you have worked in
  a particular field for many years, and feel that you have some expertise, that you can share with other businesses, you can demand respectable fees
  for that knowledge.


• COMPUTER CONSULTING. As the computer pervades almost every aspect of our daily lives, people need to become computer literate--or at least know how to work things. If you have basic computer knowledge as well as specific expertise with popular software, individuals and other businesses
  will find your help worth paying for.


• COMPUTER PROGRAMMING. No software package right now out of the box is going to work for a business exactly the way they want it to,
  so custom computer programming is often needed.


• CLOWNING. This business is no laughing matter. decent profits can be earned from doing your funny business at children's parties and schools. Contact nursery schools, pre-kindergarten classes, and day care centers and offer your services.
• DJ SERVICE. Good disk jockeys are still in demand for large parties of all kinds: birthdays, anniversaries, small weddings, office parties, dances, etc.


• GARAGE SALE ORGANIZER. Sure you can make some money with your own garage sale, but you can make much more by becoming a professional.
  You can organize and run garage sales for dozens of households in your town. Your sales pitch is that you know what sells and what doesn't, how to price objects, how to attract customers and what to serve(such as free coffee).


• HAULING, LIGHT. If you have a pickup truck, there are numerous tasks you can undertake for customers: hauling trash, dirt, appliances, lumber, etc.
• HOUSE SITTING SERVICE. When families stayed put, it used to be possible for some member of the family to feed the pets, water the plants, and take in the mail on those rare occasions when someone was absent from home.
• LAUNDRY SERVICE. There are many services you can provide for the modern single or couple, both of whom work, and laundry is one of them. You'll need a large capacity, heavy duty washing machine and the inclination to wash, dry and fold clothes all day.
• AEROBIC INSTRUCTION. There is no end in sight to America's penchant for fitness. If your finished basement is large enough, you can hold exercise and fitness classes for men and women in your community.
• MUSIC INSTRUCTION. Whether or not rock and roll is to thank, today's kids are interested in music as much as ever. And they'll always need lessons in piano, guitar, clarinet, etc. Schools usually provide some basic instructions, but instrument-specific, one-on-one instruction is always necessary.


• APARTMENT RENTAL LIST. Put your home computer to use and become an apartment broker finding renters for empty apartments. Allow the
  apartment owner to list his rental free; your profits come from the renter who pays you for finding the space.
• ROOMMATE SERVICE. The growing number of unmarried Americans
  has led to the development of this matchup industry that is easily run from one's home. You'll find roommates for people who prefer not to live alone
  or can't afford to.
• ANSWERING SERVICE. When you install an extra phone line
  (or several depending on the size of your business) in your home, busy people can have their calls call-forward to you.


REAL JOBS AT HOME! CLICK HERE


• BABY-SITTING. The old standby is still a money-maker--even more so, in fact, because mothers are busier than ever. A more lucrative angle
  to baby-sitting is to become a baby sitter broker. You advertise the service in various locations, then have a number of baby sitters on call.


• BED AND BREAKFAST/HOMESTAYS. Turn your home into a welcome haven for travelers and tourists. Unlike full fledged B&Bs' homestays usually
  have one or two rooms available for paying guest.
• CALLIGRAPHY SERVICE. If you already know how to do calligraphy, the art of beautiful writing, there's a market for you talents among those needing special invitations, personalized greeting cards, diplomas, and certifications.
  
• GROCERY DELIVERY. There aren't many grocery stores or supermarkets
  that deliver groceries to customers anymore, but with the increasing number of two-income families and the increasing demand on leisure time, grocery
  delivery is once gain needed.
• HOME HAIRSTYLIST. The elderly and otherwise homebound can always get a visiting nurse, but it's difficult to find a hairdresser who will make house calls. There's your opportunity if you have hairstyling skills.
• PARTY PLANNER. Be a professional party thrower for individuals and businesses.
• RESUME'WRITING. Before anyone embarks on a job search--whether he is a veteran in the work force or a college graduate--he'll need a resume'.


• VIDEOTAPING SERVICE. With your camcorder you can produce "mini-movies" of weddings, baptisms, bar mitzvah, family picnics, and birthday
  parties.


• BOARDING PETS. When their owners go off on vacation, dogs, cats, birds and other pets require looking after.


• DOG GROOMING. Pet lovers who want to keep their pooches in tip-top form will be your customers.


• APARTMENT/HOUSE CLEANING. Start your own maid service for apartment buildings or home residences.


• AUTO TUNE-UPS. Many times, specializing in a single service can really bring in the customers. Turn your garage into a business that just performs auto tune-ups.


• BICYCLE REPAIR. If you like working with your hands, and have an interest in getting paid while you learn mechanical skill, then bicycle business is where you can take a ride on the road to good part-time profits.
  


• CARPET CLEANING. This type of business for which the demand will never lessen. With the right kind of equipment you can "clean up" so
  to speak.
• CHIMNEY SWEEP. Fireplaces and wood stoves are more popular than ever, which means there's opportunity in cleaning chimneys.


• DRIVEWAY FINISHER. Many home owners like to have their driveways resealed and recoated with blacktop every year or every other year.
  


• FURNITURE REFINISHING/REPAIR. rockers with loose spindles, tables with wobbly legs... they can all come into your home workshop in sad condition and leave in tip-top shape.


• HOUSE PAINTER. House painting is a chore most home owners need, sooner or later, but often dread.


• LANDSCAPING. Commercial sites as well as residential homes are in need of this service.


• SMALL ENGINE REPAIR. Fix small engines for lawn mowers, leaf blowers, chain saws, go-carts--anything that utilizes a small gasoline
  engine.


• UPHOLSTERY REPAIR. Rather than buy new sofas, chairs, loveseats, couches, and ottomans, people would prefer to have someone like you reupholster them.
• ADVERTISING COPYWRITER. If you have good sales pitch, there are many small businesses in your community which can use your services.
• COURIER SERVICE. Deliver messages and packages for various businesses within your town.
• TYPING/WORD PROCESSING SERVICE. Students, businesses, legal professionals, writers and many others need reports, papers, documents, and manuscripts professionally typed.
• BAIT SHOP. Do you live near a well-stocked lake, river, bay or stream? Fisherman will need bait, lures, line and other equipment.
  
• WORM FARMING - Sell for bait, gardeni

FIREWOOD SALES/DELIVERY. Provide seasoned firewood by the cord or by the fraction of the cord to a growing number of buyers. One angle is to buy cords of seasoned wood, then cut it in fireplace-size logs and sell fractions of the cord to a route of clients.
GIFT BASKETS. This is one of the hottest product-oriented home businesses around.

STAINED GLASS. Customers will pay a premium for well-executed stained glass.

Quit Your Job and Work From Home - Find the PERFECT Work At Home Job! No More Searching the Internet for Work At Home Jobs and Businesses. Find Everything You Need in One Easy To Use Guide! People Just Like You Are Finding Work From Home Success through The Ultimate Guide to Working from Home. CLICK HERE!

CATERING. Quality catering is more in demand than ever before. Your culinary skill can bring in lots of profits. Home study courses are available.

LUNCH DELIVERY. Make specialty and conventional sandwiches for delivery to hungry office workers. Create a menu of what you're prepared to offer for lunches and distribute them to every office possible in your area--you'll be surprised at the great number of orders you'll get, so prepared. You may even need help in making the lunches. If you don't want to make the lunches yourself, another angle deals with area restaurants and deli's to provide the food--you will deliver fresh and hot. Your menu will consist of these restaurants various house specialties. The restaurants, because you're buying in quantity will give you a discount on the food; you mark it up for your profits.

BIRD TRAINING TAPES. Make endless or auto-reverse tapes to teach bird to talk, whistle or sing. Sell or rent the necessary equipment to mount in or near cages. Charge extra to record the bird owner's own voice giving the instructions on tape.

BIRDHOUSE BUILDING. Build and decorate fine, scientifically designed birdhouses and feeders for birds native to your area as well as those that migrate to or through your area. Make up little info folders for each model.

BRUSH CLEARING. With you truck, tractor and shredder,
contract to clear brush and small trees from lots and acreage. Haul off excess debris or use a composter to recycle and sell organic compost. Offer to drag or level the cleared area.

CEMENT BLOCKS. Mold small orders of standard or custom blocks (building, stepping stones, curbs) in all shapes and colors. Make molds when necessary of plywood and tin. Take orders, sell form your "yard" and through nurseries.

CONCESSION BOOTH. Operate a booth or stand at a recreation area, flea market, shopping mall or parking lot. Sell your own products and/or consignment items. Carry some attractively priced items just to attract more customers.

CURB PAINTING. With a stencil and fast-dry black spray paint house numbers on all curbs in a city block then go back and request a "donation" from occupants. Pass out circulars the day before announcing your service. Or just advertise a set rate plan for the job. Knock on doors or hand out flyers. Might need a city permit for "soliciting".

CUSTOM CLOTHING DESIGNS. Paint, block print or transfer unique or custom designs onto items of clothing: smocks, T-shirts, jackets and fabrics to be made into clothing. Use designs, illustrations, cartoons, things of interest locally!

DISTRESS SALES. Buy household items cheap at auctions and close-out sales. Clean them up and sell as your own right out of your living room because you need the money.

DOLL HOUSE FURNITURE. Make exquisite, scale furniture for doll houses. Or, buy inexpensive imported items and upgrade them. Normally, a little re-enforcing, sanding and a coat of stain or polyurethane makes all the difference in the world!

ELECTROPLATING. Offer a chrome (and other) metal plating service in your shop. Advertise in the newspaper and list with auto, RV parts stores, auto restorers and body shops. Between jobs plate items to sell (ornaments, trophies etc.).

Try search engine marketing with Yahoo! Sponsored Search. Advertise your business in search results on Yahoo! and other popular sites. You can put your business in front of potential customers at the precise moment they're searching for what you sell.

See what Yahoo! advertisers are saying about Yahoo! Search Marketing...
"The geo-targeting feature was exactly what we had been waiting for; it lets us target our specific markets."-Veronica Muth, Search Marketing Manager, Telogis
"The new features provide us more granularity and analytics; the new platform delivers big in this area. It also makes for much more effective use of the time we spend managing our campaigns."-Bruce Telkamp, Senior Vice President of Marketing, eHealthInsurance
"I've been using Yahoo! ever since I put my business online, and Yahoo! Search Marketing drives most of my rentals."-Stewart Hines, Owner, Hilton Head and Myrtle Beach Home Rentals

My Display Ads: An easy, affordable way to grow your advertising. Display advertising isn't just for the big companies, thanks to Yahoo!. We've made it easier to create display ads for your business and run them across the Yahoo! network in a matter of days

Where your ads run:
The Yahoo! network hosts the most page views of any online ad network.1; It includes: Yahoo! sites, which reach 75% of the U.S. online population.2 Yahoo! partners' sites, including eBay, WebMD and hundreds of online newspapers. Right Media Exchange, featuring over 40 networks and thousands of publisher sites.

Inside the numbers - Look what can happen when you combine search and display advertising:
244% increase in online product purchases (comScore 2006 report: "Close the Loop: Understanding Search and Display Synergy".)
68% increase in website page views (Yahoo! and comScore 2007: Research Online, Buy Offline: The Impact of Pre-Shopping on Consumer Shopping Behavior.)

Yahoo! Sponsored Search connects businesses and customers online. Sign up and get a $25 credit.